A merit-based “College Promise” programme will be introduced in today’s Throne Speech, an initiative which will award scholarships to the Bermuda College to public school graduates with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

An excerpt from the Throne Speech said, “The overarching theme of this session will be one devoted to reducing the cost of living for Bermudians and dismantling systems of inequality.

“Further investment in education will feature the following significant commitment:

“Madame President and Members of the Senate; Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly; Recent census data revealed that alongside racial pay inequity, Black Bermudians are falling behind in gaining access to higher education. To address this, the Government must and will expand the opportunities available to access a college degree.

“To achieve this, the current financial aid grant will be increased to ensure that even more young and mature students who have the ability, but not the means, are not hindered from attending the Bermuda College.

“Since this Government has come to office, 445 Bermudians have taken advantage of these grants to upgrade their skills and work towards their associates or bachelor’s degree at the Bermuda College. This long-term investment in Bermuda’s citizens will help to reverse the trends revealed in the most recent census.

“Also, during this session, a merit-based “College Promise” programme will be introduced which will award scholarships to the Bermuda College to public school graduates with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.”